Rob Gronkowski frequently looked last season like a guy who didn’t want to be there. The now-retired tight end admits that was the case.
Gronk was interviewed on Barstool Radio Thursday and said there were times he didn’t want to be on the field.
“I 100 percent lost a step (last year),” Gronk said, via WEEI’s Ryan Hannable. “I actually lost like three steps some games. I didn’t even want to be out there on the field. I was like, ‘Yo, I feel like complete a–. Coach, put Dwayne (Allen) in, I don’t even care.’ I was at that point.”
Gronk is only 30, and the Patriots desperately needed offensive weapons this season, which led to numerous comeback rumors. Gronk even capitalized on those rumors.
But he acknowledged the thought of making an NFL return never seriously crossed his mind.
Did you get the urge at any point this season to play in a game?
Rob Gronkowski on @BarstoolRadio: “No, not at all.”
— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) January 30, 2020
In his final season, Gronk has 47 catches for 682 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged his fewest yards per game (52.5) since his rookie season. He often looked slow, displayed bad body language, and came across as a guy who did not want to be out there.
The thought of him returning to the Patriots seemed to make sense on the surface, and was buttressed by rumors, but maybe never was realistic based on how Gronk felt.
